Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Loved it. Over the years, I have had several electric swatters. My biggest problem with all of them was that they had a protective screen over the active electrodes to prevent the user from getting zapped (no big problem since most of us wouldn't do it again after experiencing it). However, the protective screen prevented a large number of bugs from ever reaching the active area since they are very likely to hit the screen first, getting knocked away, and not getting zapped, especially large ones such as wasps. In fact, wasps could not be zapped with the old units that had protective screens. This unit will zap wasps since they directly touch the electrode pairs. The Executioner has completely removed the protective screen so that all bugs will make it to the zapper wires. This is really great and if you are so foolish as to touch the wires, you will receive a reminder not to do it again. Any bug that I wave this thing at causes a very noticeable POP with the results you were after. Another great feature is the sturdier, thicker wires which tend to hold their shape and spacing. This is very important to these devices since they work by holding a fixed distance between the pairs of wires for their entire length and then generating a high voltage across the wires that is just below enough to arc across between them. When a bug either hits the pairs of wires OR passes between them, the bug shortens the effective distance between the wires and the high voltage now can arc and do its job. Notice that the bug DOES NOT HAVE TO TOUCH THE WIRES to cause the arc, it just reduces the effective distance between a pair of wires, to the point that the arc can cross the gap. I read all the reviewers who want this gap to be eliminated. However, this GAP IS NECESSARY to allow all electric swatters to even work. Very small critters (mosquitoes, gnats) pass between the pairs of wires and reduce the gap's effective distance to the point of causing the arc to occur. This device cannot work with only one surface !! When talking about electricity, it takes Two To Tango as the saying goes. In general, current travels between two wires or from one wire to a ground (which can look like the other wire if so designed). In summary: 1) No protective screen to knock many bugs away from the active wires. 2) The thicker wires and very regular gap size allow the voltage to be controlled better at JUST BELOW THE ARC LEVEL which allows even the small critters to have a good chance to get zapped. I get mosquitoes almost every time. I haven't tried a gnat yet, but even they will invite the arc to occur when passing between the pairs of wires thus reducing the effective gap size. In fact, that Is the only way to ever get a gnat. Remember, they don't have to touch ANY wire to be blasted. Also, don't worry about the high voltage hurting you directly, for two reasons. 1) The high voltage source has very high impedance which greatly limits the amount of current. In fact, the high voltage drops to almost zero in a few microseconds after doing its job. 2) From a human standpoint, the gap size is so small that the current from an accidental shock travels through only a very small piece of skin (the gap width) causing pain to only a limited area. It isn't fun, to be sure, but not all that dangerous, except from a reaction to the jolt such as dropping something or jumping in such a way to cause problems. Or...if you do it to someone else, you may be hurt when they catch you !! I am buying several of these to give as Christmas presents this year. I love the design and reliability.